WHEN Adam Barton signed for the Sky Blues he did so on the understanding that he was coming to a good footballing side.

That philosophy hasn’t changed but five managers on and the opinion of the man picking the team is finally back in line with his way of thinking, quickly resulting in the 22-year-old midfielder making his first start for three long months against Doncaster on Friday.

“I’m delighted that I have been able to play in my main position,” said the former Preston player who fits effortlessly into Steven Pressley’s total football ethic.

“I came here because Andy Thorn wanted to pass the ball. Then he went and Mark Robins came in and he liked me as a No.10, just behind the striker, but that wasn’t my position.

"I played there for Republic of Ireland Under-21s but that wasn’t my position, you know, so I have been very frustrated this season.

“The new manager has come in and asked me what my favourite position is and I told him the holding role where I just want to get on the ball and play, and he put me there in the 21s against Derby last week and I showed him what I can do.

“Unfortunately Steven Jennings has picked up an injury and it has given me my chance. I’m quite lucky because Jenno has probably been one of the most consistent players this season but hopefully I have gone out and shown him that I can do that job.”

Jennings missed Friday’s incredibly heartening 1-0 win over the league leaders with a calf injury but could be back for today’s game, giving the City boss a selection teaser of the more welcome variety.

“I’d like to think I’ve given him a headache and I’ll be disappointed if I’m not playing, but that’s football,” he said.

“I just want to kick on now to the end of the season.”

Although a very different style of player to Jennings, Barton proved that he can be just as effective with a bit of finesse with the ball at his feet.

“The gaffer told me to sit in there but make sure I keep ticking the ball over because he needs me to play,” he said.

“He made the point that if I’m not playing, then the team’s not playing, so that’s what I tried to do. I can understand why the fans get frustrated at times with the way we pass backwards and sideways but that’s only because we’re wearing the opposition down. They are running around and hopefully getting tired and that’s when we try to thread the ball through.

“The goal against Doncaster is a good example of how we play because there was a good passage of passes and then, all of a sudden, it gets switched and we go and score, and that’s our philosophy, to get them tired and keep passing the ball.”

The one criticism of Barton’s game has been the more defensive side, but he said: “It is second nature for some players to go out and get stuck in with headers but I have come up through Blackburn’s academy and we just worked from passing. But defending is a massive part of the game.

“I need to work on it and I do work on it every single day, and I like to think I’m getting better at it.”

As for the instability and uncertainty off the field with administration and points deductions, Barton admitted: “I never foresaw any of this when I signed.

“It’s unfortunate and I feel sorry for the lads who have put great effort in and worked our way up the league and all of a sudden the bombshell, the ten points.

“But the gaffer said before the game that we can’t change what’s happened. It’s our job to go out and play and pick up three points and that’s all we are concentrating on now.

“We have got people working on the other side of the game and we have to do our job and let them do theirs.

“There were promises here and there, but as long as it doesn’t affect the players – and we’ve been promised that won’t happen – it’s still a great club.

“It has happened to other clubs and you just have to get on with it and get over it.

“I came here and thought there would be one manager and unfortunately I’ve ended up playing under five.

“It was the same at Preston and it’s hard when a new manager comes in because everything changes, but this time the gaffer has come in and laid down his philosophy, which everyone is happy with, and all we can see is us going forward as a team.

“He’s only been in charge for five games and we already look like we’re 90 per cent there, so it’s looking good for next season.”